History of Thiru Kachamkurissi Temple

An ancient sage by name “Kashyapa’ was once doing severe tapas on the top of a hill called “Govinda Hills”, situated near Kollengode in Palakkad district. At that time Kashyapa, consecrated three idols of Vishnu, Sastha (Ayyappa) and Ganapathy (Ganesha) and installed the idols after making a temple on the top of the hills.

After many years, Govinda Hills and surrounding aread came under the ruler of Vengunat Desom. In the valley and surrounding areas, there lived many Namboothiri Brahmins. The ruler of Vengunat and devotees used to climb up the hill to have darsan of the deities during auspicious occasions. Later the temple was shifted to a more convenient place in the valley (the present location). A committee was formed with the ruler of Vengunat as the chief patron to conduct the day to day affairs of the temple. In due course, the devotees formed a trust, and selected two Brahmins as trustees to assist the ruler of Vengunat. The temple attained name and fame gradually. The surrounding area of the temple was occupied by many devotees. The greatness of the temple was one main reason for the growing population in the surrounding areas and in the desom. The temple got its name ‘Kashyapa Temple’ in honour of the ancient sage Kashyapa who had founded the temple years back, on the top of Govinda hills.

Local devotees conferred full power to the ruler of Vengunat and other two trustees to handle the administration of the temple. The trustees were entrusted the responsibility to establish and enrich the culture of the devotees, inculcate discipline and refinement of a very high order among the devotees and other people of the desom. The trustees including the ruler did full justice to what they were entrusted with. The quality of the people improved remarkably and Vengunat desom became a holy land. Even today, the descendants of the two Brahmin trustees and the ruler are the trustees of Kashyapa Devaswam.

During the time of Tippu’s military assault in the Southern India, many brahmins and nambootiries had migrated to Kochin out of fear and stayed there permanently. Though the trustees also migrated to Kochin, they attended the meetings held by the ruler because of their staunch devotion.

Daily poojas, recital of Vedas, adorning appropriate ornaments on the deities, dressing up the idols, etc are done by the poojaries as per the custom depicted in the Hindu vedantic and thantric beliefs.

The temple had become famous all over South India. Devotees started visting the temple during festive occasions and observed special poojas to pay homage to their nearest and dearest departed souls.

Solitary penance was also being observed by the devotees who renounced worldly pleasures. The atmosphere in and around the temple was always spiritually charged. The holiness of Govinda Hills and another tall hill by the name “Thenmala” enchanted the devotees and other tourists with its scenic beauty and divine environment. Not far away from the temple, there existed a famous lake by the name “Sitarkund”. It is believed that Rama, Lakshmana and Sita had taken bath in this holy lake when they were proceeding towards South.

Several tributaries were said to have originated from this lake. It was also believe that by taking bath in any of the holy tributaries, would cure patients who suffered from severe diseases and ill health. The lake, once very big, later got reduced in its size due to geographical changes. Even today, people believe in the cuing qualities of the “kund”.

Above Govinda Hills, we can see a continuous flow of pure and holy water, originating from the bottom of two big rocks. Even during very hot summers, the flow of water is incessant. The uninterrupted flow of water on the top of Govinda Hills is always a miracle to the devotees who visit that place for blessings. They are even surprised to see that the momentum of the flow of water increases in time their loud chanting of the mantra “Govinda, Govinda,…”. The purity of the water can still be seen. Devotees collect this water to take home as ‘prasada’, and it remains unspoiled for long.

There is also a holy river by the name ‘Ikshumathy’ which originated from ‘sitarkund’. Taking bath in this river is considered to be highly pleasing to the departed souls.

Mahavishnu is the most prominent deity in this temple. Here, all poojas and prasadams are dedicated to Rama who is considered to be the avatar of Vishnu. Devotees are blessed with purusharthams ( dharma, artha, kama, moksha). Many incidents of blessings and boons granted by this deity had been narrated by the devotees in the past years. To attain certain desired boon, one should develop pure mental attitude, devotion, dedication and service mindedness.

Kachamkurissi Temple Website

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